Moscow Horseshoe UFO: Mass Sighting, Colonel Karyakin Close Encounter, 30 Witnesses
Many Moscow residents reported seeing a huge reddish-orange horseshoe-shaped object accompanied by swirling luminous gases. 250 miles west, Soviet colonel V. Karyakin heard a low-frequency booming noise and saw a bright object less than 500 feet away. He approached to 150 feet — it emitted a high-pitched sound and three white rays before ascending rapidly and vanishing. He then saw a second large elongated reddish UFO with a bright companion object leaving a fiery trail. As many as 30 eyewitnesses confirmed the event, investigated by Soviet military and scientific personnel.
Background
1. On June 14, 1980, many Moscow residents reported seeing a large, unusual aerial object. Simultaneously, a Soviet colonel, V. Karyakin, experienced a close encounter with a bright object approximately 250 miles west of Moscow.
The Incident
Many Moscow residents witnessed a huge reddish-orange horseshoe-shaped object in the sky. The object was accompanied by swirling luminous gases. At the same time, Colonel V. Karyakin, located 250 miles west of Moscow, heard a low-frequency booming noise.
Karyakin then observed a bright object less than 500 feet away. He approached the object to within 150 feet. The object emitted a high-pitched sound.
Investigation
The source text mentions the "Setka-MO" program, a Soviet program that analyzed UFO incidents. Vladimir Azhazha, a physicist and professor of mathematics at Moscow University, stated that Setka-MO generated "too many incidents that could not be denied." Azhazha's statements suggest a secret element to the Setka-MO program.
Azhazha also described encounters between Soviet submarines and underwater objects. These objects were initially suspected to be American devices. One incident involved a Soviet icebreaker in the Arctic Ocean. A "brilliant spherical craft" broke through the ice and flew vertically, showering the vessel with ice fragments. Sailors and officers witnessed the object and the hole in the ice.
As a result of these encounters, the Soviets developed rules of engagement for UFOs. These rules covered how to observe UFOs and what to do in a confrontation.
Significance
The Moscow Horseshoe UFO event is significant as a well-documented mass sighting involving both civilian and military witnesses. The close encounter experienced by Colonel Karyakin adds further weight to the event. The event occurred during the Cold War, a period of heightened geopolitical tension, potentially influencing the Soviet response.
The existence of the Setka-MO program and the development of rules of engagement for UFOs suggest a serious level of official Soviet interest in the phenomenon. Azhazha's comments about the frequency and undeniable nature of UFO incidents further highlight the significance of these events. The reported encounters between Soviet submarines and underwater objects suggest that the UFO phenomenon extends beyond aerial sightings.